Out of the past 10/28/02

10 years ago: Oct. 28, 1992

After year-long slump, Cape Girardeau's sales tax receipts appear to be on rebound and are at five-year high; city this year has collected $4.23 million in sale tax revenue since January, up 5.7 percent from $4 million collected last year at this time.

Reginald Basil "R.B." Potashnick, who began his construction business in 1926 with three teams of mules and built it into company once ranked among largest in world, died Oct. 26 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Potashnick, 91, maintained residences in Fort Lauderdale and Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: Oct. 28, 1977

Pickup of leaves raked from residents' yards has fallen behind because of heavy demand for city's two vacuum trucks to make collections; city is asking for patience on part of public; L.W. McDowell, superintendent of public works, says department is about 75 calls behind.

Anna, Ill. -- Illinois farmers shouldn't drop so much as one seed into ground until they're paid fair prices for their products, organizers of farmers' strike say; Eugene Schroeder of Campo, Colo., and Gerald Wright of Hereford, Tex., spoke last night to standing-room-only crowd of farmers and agribusiness people in Anna, saying farmers are in dire straits and urging firm action to boost prices.

50 years ago: Oct. 28, 1952

Series of large brush fires near Highway 34 west of Gravel Hill were brought under control last night by members of Service Company of Cape Girardeau and Company E of Jackson, both of 140th Infantry, Missouri National Guard; Col. Russell Boyt, regimental commander, says fire swept along ground, fanned by high wind.

New City Plan Commission, meeting for first time yesterday, learned that its duties are far broader than any of its predecessors had thought and that functions taken over by City Board of Adjustment are actually within jurisdiction of Plan Commission; it was explained by City Attorney Jack O. Knehans that over years since zoning ordinance passed in 1929, Board of Adjustment had gradually taken over functions that actually rest with planning body.

75 years ago: Oct. 28, 1927

Henry A. Leher, 78, died yesterday at Cape Girardeau hospital; he was born in Germany, Feb. 15, 1857, and came with his mother to this country when he was 3 years old, settling on farm about two miles north of Cape Girardeau; he was tinner by trade, operating shop in Cape Girardeau for 55 years; he is survived by three sons and a daughter.

With nine drivers definitely entered and fair weather for occasion predicted, second renewal of automobile races at Fairground Park tomorrow afternoon is expected to attract record crowd; races are being given under auspices of Cape Fair Association to make up deficit caused by unfavorable weather at fair a month ago.

-- Sharon K. Sanders